Chapter 1435: Chapter 1435

A brilliant golden light spilled over the city, casting a soft glow on the metal pipes and tiles of the buildings. The heavy rain and snow had passed, leaving beautiful weather in their wake, though no one knew how long it would last.

"As for the matter of heretics, take the Believers of Lies, for example. Despite all they've done, they haven't fundamentally crossed the Church's line, so we haven't moved to arrest them. Perhaps you've heard, but one of them appeared in the Dock Area around noon. He was spotted by the demigods of the Orthodox Church, but they let him go."

Captain Bincy stated.

Jenkins's lip twitched.

"The version I heard was that a Believer of Lies froze the sea to save Nolan, and that's why the demigods left him alone."

"You're certainly well-informed."

Captain Bincy chuckled, not the least bit embarrassed that his little fabrication had been exposed.

"Speaking of which, the Believers of Lies have been remarkably active lately. I've heard they're connected to many of the incidents this past month. The Titan on the city's outskirts, the subsequent ghoul invasion, the inverted city that appeared in the sky, and of course, what happened today. What are they trying to accomplish? Are they messengers of calamity, or the saviors who drive it away?"

This conversation with Captain Bincy, the first in a while, had drawn Jenkins in. He found he didn't mind talking a little longer.

"Now that you mention it, I realize just how much has happened this month. And there's more. The unseasonal snow that fell across the world last month was also connected to them, though the heart of that incident was in the northern kingdom. Ever since that black-robed figure who collects supernatural items first appeared six months ago, I feel like the whole world has been thrown into chaos. The world used to be peaceful, in my opinion. People cared about little more than cheaper, smaller steam engines or the latest inventions. But in just half a year, war and disaster have become front-page news."

Although the sun had not yet fully set, the moon and stars were already faintly visible. Captain Bincy tilted his head back to look at a particular purple star, which stood out distinctly against the deepening twilight.

"You know about that one, right?"

Captain Bincy pointed to the star.

"What Enchanter in this world doesn't know of the Star of Destiny? The appearance of the purple star heralds the end of an Epoch and the coming of the final days. That much is clearly recorded in ancient texts and on stone tablets. Everyone is saying the emergence of this new god and his followers is inextricably linked to the end of the Eighteenth Epoch."

Jenkins said, a sudden pang of longing hitting him for the cat he hadn't seen all afternoon.

"Then do you know that besides the 'Star of Destiny,' ancient texts also call it the 'Star of Calamity'?"

Captain Bincy asked again.

"Of course. After all, it does herald the arrival of disaster. It's no surprise it would be given the name 'Star of Calamity.'"

That was what Papa Oliver had told him.

"And do you agree with that assessment?"

Captain Bincy inquired, his hand twitching toward his pocket for a cigarette case before he forced it still. Jenkins suspected he was trying to quit.

He answered, uncertainly.

"Well, I don't. While the Star of Destiny does indeed point to disaster, the disaster itself has nothing to do with it. It offers guidance to us mortals, yet it's branded a harbinger of calamity. Isn't that a bit unfair to the star?" Fınd the newest release on novel(ꜰ)ire.net

"It is a little unfair... Are you suggesting that even though the Believers of Lies always seem to show up during accidents and disasters, they aren't the ones responsible for them? That it's unfair to associate their presence with the calamity?"

"Yes, that's exactly my view. While some in that group are certainly detestable—like the man in the Black Robe and the Twin Demons—we can't ignore the fact that they have helped Nolan on multiple occasions when it was under threat. As a Scribe for the Church, I probably shouldn't say this, but I believe they're innocent."

"The Believers of Lies are innocent?"

Jenkins stared at the middle-aged man, who continued to gaze calmly at the night sky.

"Innocent, most of the time, at least."

Captain Bincy nodded with a wistful expression.

"That's an interesting way to look at it. I sometimes think the world would be a more peaceful place without them. You should be careful sharing ideas like that with strangers. You might get pegged as a follower of the God of Lies, or one of their accomplices."

Jenkins made a small jest.

"If it weren't this group, it would just be some other. If not Believers of Lies, then Believers of Slaughter. The Eighteenth Epoch isn't ending because of them; they're simply products of the age they live in. They aren't driving the times; the times are driving them... Honestly, the situation could be much worse. These people—powerful, intelligent, and determined to hide their identities—turned out not to be irredeemable villains after all. Could we really ask for a better outcome than that?"

At this, Captain Bincy couldn't help but laugh himself.

Jenkins mulled over his words and had to admit he had a point.

"You're right. While their arrival signals disaster, it's unfair to blame them for every misfortune. I imagine the Believers of Lies would be very happy to hear you say that."

Jenkins remarked, and Captain Bincy immediately gave him a suspicious glance:

"You just said you were a follower of the Sage. Could you offer a prayer to the Sage to prove your identity?"

Jenkins's comment had made Bincy suspicious. And his suspicion was both warranted and misplaced. Jenkins was widely believed to be a follower of the God of Lies, but in truth, he was not.

"Praise to the Sage. May Your light illuminate my path forward."

Jenkins recited the prayer softly, expertly tracing the holy symbol over his chest. Only then did Captain Bincy nod:

"Young man, that advice I gave earlier applies to you as well. Don't go around saying things like that so casually, or people might start questioning your identity."

"But what's the harm in being suspected? Those people might be bad, but they aren't completely evil. I'd rather believe they are heroes who walk hand in hand with disaster."

Bincy repeated the word dubiously. He turned to look at Jenkins and saw him profiled against the sunset, half his face bathed in light, the other half veiled in shadow.

"Even if they are heroes, they're dark heroes. Heroes who walk with disaster are never acknowledged by the people. People want peace. Don't admire them; they are not good men."

Captain Bincy corrected him, not wanting the stranger before him to start idolizing the Believers of Lies.

"You're right. People do prefer peace."

Jenkins sighed. He turned to face the last rays of the setting sun, his shadow stretching across the wall, flickering as the wind tugged at his clothes.

"No one likes disaster, but someone always has to face it. I won't worship the Believers of Lies. If they had a choice, I doubt they'd choose to walk with disaster either..."